Probabilistic Estimates of Design Load Factors for Wind-Sensitive Structures Using the "Peaks Over Threshold" Approach.
Probabilistic Estimates of Design Load Factors for
Wind-Sensitive Structures Using the "Peaks Over
Threshold" Approach.
(921 K)
Whalen, T. M.
NIST TN 1418; 30 p. April 1996.
Available from:
Government Printing Office
Keywords:
building technology; building codes; climatology;
extreme value theory; hurricanes; load factors;
structural engineering; structural reliability;
threshold methods; wind (meteorology)
Abstract:
The "peaks over threshold" method is used to estimate
ratios of wind-induced loads with various long mean
recurrence intervals to loads with a 50-year mean
recurrence interval. The results support the conclusion
that the load factor value of 1.3 specified in the ASCE
Standards 7-93 and 7-95 is adequate for extratropical
storm regions. However, for hurricane-prone regions,
the results imply that the standard value of the load
factor (even after being augmented by an importance
factor specified in the standards) leads to nominal
ultimate wind loads with considerably shorter mean
recurrence intervals than is the case for extratropical
regions. This suggests that the 1.3 load factor value
specified in the ASCE Standards 7-93 and 7-95 is
inadequate for wind-sensitive structures in
hurricane-prone regions.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899